Pippin Properties

What Pippin Properties does

Pippin Properties, Inc. is a New York-based literary agency founded in 1998 by Holly McGhee that represents authors and illustrators in the children's publishing market. The agency's core categories are picture books, middle-grade novels, graphic novels, and young adult novels, with occasional adult-trade projects; represented creators include multiple Newbery Medal winners and nationally recognized picture-book illustrators such as Kate DiCamillo, Doreen Cronin, Peter H. Reynolds, LeUyen Pham, Edward Koren, and Jim McMullan. Underlying infrastructure is minimal in the technology sense — the agency operates via standard web and email submission channels (Query Manager, Manuscript Wish List), a curated public website with individual author and illustrator profiles, and personal social media accounts. The agency's editorial model emphasizes substantive manuscript development before publisher submission rather than high-volume placement.

The business model is commission-based: the agency earns a percentage (industry-standard 15% domestic / 20% foreign for literary agents, though not publicly disclosed on Pippin's site) on deals placed with publishing houses for each represented creator. The agency claims a 'nearly every project we submit' placement rate with publishers. Distribution is B2B-direct to publishing houses; film and television rights are routed through partner agencies (CAA via Dana Spector, UTA via Jason Richman, The Dravis Agency via Jason Dravis). Headcount is approximately five people — founder/creative director Holly McGhee, associate agent Marissa Brown, finance manager Elaine Hromin, agency assistant Katie Hopkins, and an intern. The office is at 110 W 40th St, Suite 1704, New York, NY 10018. There is no parent company, no outside investment, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Pippin Properties

Legal name

Pippin Properties, Inc.

Website

https://pippinproperties.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pippin Properties is a New York literary agency founded in 1998 that represents children's book authors and illustrators, including multiple Newbery Medal winners and major picture-book franchises, placing work with publishers on commission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Agency Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Nonfiction Publishing (MPAJAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humor, Gift & Specialty Format Books (Journals, Coloring, etc.) (MPAJAAAN), Children’s Licensed & Media Tie-In Publishing (MPAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Literary agency services
• Children's book representation
• Author representation
• Illustrator representation
• Subsidiary rights licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Literary representation and commission: Agency earns commission on deals placed with publishers for represented authors and illustrators. The company states they have 'nearly every project we submit' placed with publishers, indicating high placement success rate.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Pippin Properties is a literary agency that represents authors and illustrators, primarily in children's and young adult literature (picture books, middle-grade, graphic novels, YA novels) and occasionally in adult trade projects. The agency develops manuscripts editorially, submits them to publishers, and licenses ancillary rights (live stage, theatrical, merchandise, audio) to maximize deal value for its clients.

Product overview

Pippin Properties, Inc. is a literary agency offering representation services for authors and illustrators. The agency specializes in children's literature, primarily representing writers and illustrators for picture books, middle-grade, graphic novels, and young adult novels, while occasionally representing adult-trade fiction and nonfiction projects. The agency provides manuscript submission services, author/illustrator representation, licensing of ancillary rights (including live stage, theatrical, merchandise, and audio), and diversity-focused initiatives to support underrepresented creators. Unlike a software product company, Pippin Properties does not offer a platform with modular products; rather, it provides agent-based literary representation services as its core offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Author Representation Services Full-service literary representation for writers of picture books, middle-grade novels, graphic novels, young adult novels, and occasionally adult fiction/nonfiction. Includes editorial manuscript development, submission to publishers, and negotiation of publishing deals.
• Illustrator Representation Services Literary representation for illustrators and author-illustrators working on picture books and graphic novels. Includes portfolio review, query handling, and submission of illustration work to publishers.
• Subsidiary Rights Licensing Licensing of ancillary and subsidiary rights for represented titles across live stage, theatrical, merchandise, audio, and foreign/translation formats to maximize creator income beyond primary book publishing deals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly every project submitted is placed with publishers

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Dana Spector / CAAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCAA (Creative Artists Agency) represents Jandy Nelson for film and television rights. Dana Spector at CAA handles media rights for the author represented by Pippin Properties.
• Jason Richman / UTAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUTA (United Talent Agency) represents An Na for media/film rights. Jason Richman at UTA handles rights representation for the author.
• Jason Dravis / The Dravis AgencyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Dravis Agency handles film and television rights for illustrator Jim McMullan, who is represented by Pippin Properties for book publishing.
• Manuscript Wish List (MSWL)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarissa Brown's Manuscript Wish List profile on Manuscript Wish List platform provides transparency on what types of submissions she is seeking, particularly from underrepresented and marginalized creators.
• Query TrackerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuery Manager platform (querytracker.net) used by Marissa Brown for receiving and managing author queries, providing structured submission process and tracking.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wernick & Pratt Agency: A boutique children's literature agency specializing in picture books, middle-grade, and YA, with a similarly prestigious client roster and editorial-development ethos. Directly comparable as a small, founder-led children's book agency with strong publisher relationships.
• Barry Goldblatt Literary: Boutique literary agency focused on children's and YA literature, representing both debut and established authors. Closely comparable to Pippin in client focus, size, and exclusive-query intake model.
• Stimola Literary Studio: Children's book-focused literary agency representing authors and author-illustrators across picture books through YA, including strong subsidiary rights execution. Directly comparable mission and client focus.
• Erin Murphy Literary Agency: Boutique children's book agency specializing in picture books, middle-grade, graphic novels, and YA. Directly comparable in size, intake model, and category focus, with strong placement track record.
• Dunham Literary Inc. Boutique children's and YA literary agency representing authors and illustrators across the same picture book, middle-grade, and YA categories. Closely comparable scale and editorial development model.
• Quill (formerly Liza Royce Agency): Boutique literary agency representing children's book authors and illustrators across picture books through YA. Comparable client focus and small-team operational model.

Broad incumbents

• Writers House: One of the largest and most established US literary agencies, with a major children's literature department representing picture book, middle-grade, and YA authors across multiple sub-agents. Comparable service line but much larger scale.
• Foundry Literary + Media: A larger literary agency with a children's and YA division handling authors and illustrators across the same categories as Pippin. Comparable offerings but with broader client roster and ancillary rights infrastructure.
• Folio Literary Management: Mid-sized literary agency with children's and YA agents handling picture books through YA titles. Comparable offering across overlapping categories, though broader scope including adult fiction.

Others

• HarperCollins Children's Books: One of the largest US children's book publishers and a major buyer of the manuscripts Pippin places. Relevant counterparty rather than competitor — defines the agency's addressable market and commission economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LovethePippins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pippin-properties-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/hollymmcghee

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pippin Properties